which she is pledged. Adieu, dearest friend. Mrs. Oliphant will write to you to-morrow. With truest love, believe me ever yours,

"ELIZABETH WARBURTON."

Grace laid down the letter; she was sitting alone in a shady arbour, and she lifted her heart in thankfulness to God, that another dear friend was gathered into the fold of the Good Shepherd. "Yes," she mused to herself, "one by one they enter in and range themselves under the glorious banner of the cross; one and another comes out from the world, and seeks an entrance into the kingdom of Christ. We who were friends and school-companions on earth, shall, ere long, be gathered into the blessed company of 'the just made perfect;' so that the bond of friendship may never be broken. Little Mabel is there already; sweet, gentle, little Mabel! Who would wish her back to a world of sin and sorrow ?"

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'They who have crossed the stream, can never wish to come back again, even for an hour; they know better than we what dangers they have escaped. Ah, dearest mamma, how happy you are in your bright home! Can you witness the joy and peace which God has given to your children? We would not have you back, dear, gentle mother; but we shall come to you; we know not how soon, how early the Master may come and call for one of us." Even while she mused thus, Grace's weak heart trembled. For herself she dreaded not the coming of the last enemy; but Fred, that young gallant soldier, he might fall in the hour of

Y

322

THE HEART'S MISGIVINGS.

victory; and Ernest, he might be snatched from the arms of his young wife. "Forbid it, Father," was all the prayer she could at that moment find strength to utter.

"Thou speakest, and the thunder rolls
Its hollow peal from shore to shore ;
Through the deep gloom the lightnings play,
With fiery gleam, the wild waves o'er;
And thou, O God of power and might!
Thou rul'st the tempest in its flight."

Ar the end of a fortnight Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hamilton came home. Mr. Hamilton and Dr. James had returned to London; but Sir Herbert and Lady Leslie were still at Carnford Grange, and Eleanor had remained to welcome her young host and hostess to their beloved home.

Hester and Grace wandered out into the lane twenty times before the carriage made its appearance, and even Miss Clayton fidgetted about in a very unwonted style, carrying her knitting backwards and forwards between the parlour and the garden gate. Eleanor managed to find occupation in gathering and arranging fruit, and filling vases of flowers for the bride's toilet. She had purposely left these little trifles till the afternoon, in order that the time spent in expecting the travellers might not pass too heavily, as such seasons frequently do. But the very last touches were given to both fruit and flowers, and

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NEWS FROM THE EAST.

nothing remained to be done but to control impatience, and try to catch the first glimpse of the carriage ere it began to ascend the hill, It came at length; Hester joyfully announced the fact that it was crossing the bridge that led to Cranbourn, and in a few minutes it stopped at the gate. How Grace's heart throbbed with joy, as she saw Ernest lightly spring from his seat, and assist Margaret in alighting; how delightedly the sisters met after their temporary separation, and how full of thanksgiving was the welcome with which Miss Clayton greeted her children to their home!

It was a pleasant evening, full of calm joy, and quiet, deep happiness; and to crown the whole, a servant, who had been despatched to Cranbourn, returned with a letter he had found lying at the post-office from Captain Hamilton.

Fred wrote in tolerable spirits, and in excellent health. He gave a ludicrous description of their shifts and contrivances for comfort; and deplored his unavoidable absence from his brother's wedding. The letter was full of congratulations; with all kinds of merry messages to his new sister; and a special request that she and Grace would refrain from quarrelling and mischief-making, according to the common practice of sisters-in-law. In the postscript only he referred to Eleanor, testifying his pleasure at her being associated with Grace as bridesmaid, and begging either of his sisters to write him a long document, "all about her." The letter, which had been despatched on the afternoon of the wedding-day, had of course not reached him at the time of his writing

CHRISTIAN WARFARE.

325

home. Throughout the epistle there was a tone which told Ernest their last conversation at Southampton was not forgotten; and at the bottom of the final page was a second postscript to this effect:

:

"You remember poor Miller, a merry, care-fornought sort of fellow? He died two days ago of cholera. Death is very busy among the troops; perhaps, after all, Ernest, it is I who am to be missing at the next family roll-call. I dare say you have read those beautiful lines by Charlotte Elizabeth, called

Christian Warfare.' A fellow showed them to me the other day in a little book of sacred poetry. I liked the last verse best; especially that part:

'Soldier, rise! the war is done,

Lo! the hosts of hell are flying; "Twas thy Lord the battle won, Jesus conquered them by dying.'

If the great battle is won for me and I sometimes hope it is-I need not be afraid of cholera, sword, or shell. Adieu!"

There were tears and smiles over the precious letter; and when, that evening, Ernest for the first time gathered his household around the family altar, most fervently and solemnly was that beloved one committed to the care of Him who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth; whose care is over them that trust in Him, and wait for his salvation.

The ninety-first Psalm was the portion selected for Scripture reading; and there was a deeper emphasis in the voice of the reader when he came to those verses